He encouraged me to take the space and get away to etch and tap words, to let my mind run free from the crumbs scattered across the counter and the little people across the floors. He told me my stories were worth telling, and that it didn’t matter what anyone thought or said or how I convinced myself otherwise because I was, in fact, a writer.

He’s a writer himself, but he doesn’t really know it.

Once I thought him a dreamer, seeking after far away visions of academia, but as the years wind on, I see that he is really a dream holder and that’s a whole different kind of story weaving.

It’s the kind unspoken and the kind in whispers across pillows and in the pantry with the door closed. When I’m doubt weary and wondering again why I plug away at this thing that causes me such joy and such angst, his storytelling is the kind that holds space and reminds me what’s true, helping me find steady ground with few words. “It’s ok, it’s only today” and “Take one thing at a time.” And he waits with me until I’m ready to go again, or not.

For the last twenty years, we’ve been writing a new kind of story, and we don’t know how it’s going to end, and sometimes we struggle to speak the same dream language, but we’ll continue setting feet in places of love and predictability while stumble stepping into spacious places of possibility.

We’ll take turns holding the lines and turns of phrase, and we’ll get bogged down in character development and plot points, and we’ll keep pressing on, heads down, eyes up, co-authors of this story.

_______

Happy 16th Anniversary to the man who lives out for me the meaning of grace and unconditional love, of commitment and perseverance. I am changed for the better each day I walk life with you. I love you, sweetheart.

Happy anniversary! What a beautiful gift you are to each other. And yes, you have a gift of writing, Ashley!!! This line expressed how I feel about my nearly 16 year marriage so well- “we’ll continue setting feet in places of love and predictability while stumble stepping into spacious places of possibility.”
Have I mentioned lately how blessed I am to know you? So very thankful!!!

Happy Anniversary! We’re going to be celebrating our 16th in May. It’s a good year. ;) I love how you write, Ashley, about the simplest grace filled things to the most profound. You are a master. You are a writer and I love that you married a smart, kind man who tells you so. All the love in the world for you, as you guys celebrate!

It’s a beautiful love story Ashley, that you & Mike continue to “write”…Happy 16th Anniversary dear friend! Thank you for the example you are for Troy & I, & so many other couples. Love you guys lots!!!

Oh my, this is gorgeous. It’s true, this journey of marriage is telling a different kind of story, isn’t it? You and Michael are each telling your own, side by side, and still the two of you together tell a different story, too. And it’s not the kind of story, as much as we would like, that we sit down and outline from the beginning and determine what will happen and how it will end. There are all kinds of plot developments and twists and turns and character development, as you so wisely said, that we’ll encounter along the way…

And so, I love these words, in particular: “but we’ll continue setting feet in places of love and predictability while stumble stepping into spacious places of possibility.” How beautiful and courageous and hopeful is that?

I love you and I pray blessing heaped upon blessing for you and Michael and this glorious story you’re living and telling, now and in the years ahead.

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